Month: January 2011
Verizon’s iPhone 4! Blast it in the media, it will come true (sometimes)
So it’s official! The iPhone 4 is coming to Verizon Feb. 10th with pre-orders on or around Feb. 3rd. Prices are $299/16GB and $399/32GB both with 2 year contracts and $649.99/16GB and $749.99/32GB without. It has a few new inner workings that make it compatible to the Verizon network which is CDMA compared to AT&T’s GSM technology. They say the death grip is gone. Great. But remember, it’s the same model so nothing crazy new and spectacular as far as features go. You won’t be able to talk and surf the net on the Verizon version of the phone like you can with the AT&T version because CDMA technology just doesn’t do it. It is said they are working on a fix that will allow it by the end of the year. The coming phone won’t work on Verizon’s new super fast LTE 4G data network. Apple says the iPhone 4 is not LTE because that would have meant a lot less battery life, something they didn’t want to compromise. We don’t know the strain that the new iPhones will put on Verizon’s data network as yet but we do know they are data hogs but won’t wreak havoc like they did during the initial days of the phone being on AT&T’s data network. A cool thing about Verizon compared to AT&T is that they offer unlimited data with the phone and you will be able to use this phone as a wifi hotspot that supports up to 5 devices. I’m sure I’ll have a hack for that for you all. (stay tuned) ALSO!!! The fact that Verizon and Sprint use the same CDMA technology means it can be flashed onto the Sprint network. (stay tuned for that also) and just a tidbit…the AT&T bumper/case won’t fit on the Verizon phones because of new button placement.
Should you wait? YES! For the last couple of years Apple has annouced a new iPhone in June/July. I couldn’t imagine them not doing so this year. If you buy the iPhone 4 you will be locked into a 2 year agreement so that means no new one for you when the new one came out unless you pay full price. Since Verizon is gallivanting their new LTE 4G data network, I could see the new iPhone with this technology since the phone is all about data.
Use Your Android Phone as a Wireless Hub for FREE! (Updated)
For you all who have an Android OS phones I have a something good for you! If you have a data plan on your phone you can share the internet from your phone with other wifi devices. That means internet wherever you go. Cell carriers charge $30 or more for this service. Thanks to these 2 easy apps it’s free. First and foremost your phone needs to be rooted which allows the use of the 2nd app. Rooted basically means having access to a folder named “root” in your phone’s OS. Accessing the root for Android would be the equivalent to jail-braking an iPhone. To truly root your phone permanently there are options that range from rewriting code to following steps with rooting apps. Enter z4root! This app is one of the easiest of them all but it’s not permanent. You hit a button in the app and you’re rooted until you restart your phone (hit the button again to regain root). Then comes the wifi tether for root users app. It’s also easy to use and has the usual options for a wireless router.
Step 1. download and install the z4root and the wifi tether app files from below. (you can access the blog from your phone. It’s a direct downloads)
Step 2. open z4root and hit the “temporary root” button. It will take a few seconds.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/17911061/z4root%201.3.0.apk (copyright 2010 RyanZA)
Step 3. open wireless tether.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/17911061/Wireless%20Tether%202.0.5.apk
4. When it opens select the menu button on your phone. go to settings and change the SSID. That will be the name of your network.
5. When you search for and connect to your network from wifi device, you will have to accept your device connection. There will be a shielf with an red x. Click the red x and accept with a check mark, your wireless device.
That’s IT! ——-> if you have any questions leave it in the comments or send me an email.. theurbantech@gmail.com
(disclaimer!!!! use at your own risk) 🙂
If you want a traditional true root, I have a homeboy who works remotely…just let me know lol
(Update) More and more phones might not be rootable with z4 root, if that’s your case then try SuperOneSlick by shortfuse. It’s an easy app that roots your phone from your computer with basically one click. Find it HERE (the download is after the version changes info)
the urban tech 